I
HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE PRO-CANNABIS ARGUMENT: CHARLES CLARKE MP
Source: Evening News, Norwich, UK
Pub date: Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Subj: I have no respect for the pro-cannabis
argument
Author: Naomi Canton
Web:
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk
Contact: EveningNewsLetters@archant.co.uk
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
Norwich
Green Party http://www.norwichgreenparty.org/
Clarles
Clarke http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1397.asp
Home Secretary Charles Clarke today defended his
decision to snub a national pro-cannabis conference in Norwich - because he had
"no respect" for the organisation behind it.
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance, which has its
head office in Norwich, invited the Norwich South MP to next month's conference
at the University of East Anglia.
But the alliance said Mr Clarke had not replied
to the invitation and the Labour MP today revealed he was not prepared to meet
the pro-cannabis campaigners - but would go head to head with them in this
May's elections.
He said: "I have a very full schedule and I
could not make that particular event. I am pretty sure I have replied.
"I would not be prepared to meet them
anyway as I don't respect their argument in any way.
"I am expecting them to run a candidate
against me at the next election and we can discuss it at the Hustings then.
"The Government has done the right thing to
reclassify cannabis."
In 1997 Mr Clarke revealed he had smoked
cannabis and in 2001 he told TV's Question Time that he tried the drug twice
while on holiday in America.
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance's sixth annual
national conference will take place at the Elizabeth Fry Buildings at the UEA
on February 19.
It's national co-ordinator Alun Buffry said:
"We invited Mr Clarke at the beginning of the year by email and post and
we have heard nothing.
"I am pretty angry that our elected MP won't
come and talk to his constituency.
"We thought that seeing as he was the new
Home Secretary and Norwich South MP and the university is in his constituency
we would give him the opportunity to speak to us, the general public and
students."
He said the Alliance wanted Mr Clarke to explain
and justify the Government stance on cannabis and reveal its five to ten year
strategy for the drug, which was reclassified last year to Class C.
"Mr Clarke does not surprise me because
this Government cannot justify its position," Mr Buffry said.
"The Government position is based on
scare-mongering and the Government is too afraid to take a positive step.
Cannabis is one of the safest drugs in the world."
He said the Government did not have scientific
evidence to justify including cannabis in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
"I can not recall this Government ever
putting anyone in a situation where they will answer questions," he said.
"We believe that the act of using cannabis
should be an individual choice," Mr Buffry said.
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance was set up in to
1999 in Norwich and Mr Buffry confirmed it is planning on putting a candidate
forward to fight Mr Clarke for his Norwich South seat.
But Norwich Green party councillor Adrian Ramsay
said he supported the legalisation of cannabis.
"We want it to be made legal. Whilst
cannabis is illegal it's very difficult to control what's in it and we believe
it would be much safer if it was under the control of the sate, legalised and
it could then be taxed and money put into public services.
"We are also in favour of pubic education
of all these types of drugs - the illegal and legal ones and making the public
aware of the health implications of taking them."
Do you think cannabis should be legalised? Vote
on the Evening News website at eveningnews24.co.uk